Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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This is a very important issue. It is about treating workers in a humanitarian way. We have a huge number of healthcare assistants, mainly working in private nursing homes, who the State brought here on special work permits because it could not find the labour in this country. These people are mainly women and mainly nurses. They are fully qualified nurses who work, if you like, below the level of their qualifications. We are getting added value from them. They work here as healthcare assistants to make a better life for their families. Most are from India, mainly the Kerala region, as well as from the Philippines and other countries.

These workers have been here for three years. They are completely separated from their families. Think about it: these women who do not see their children for years. They have to try to communicate with them via Zoom, which, as anyone who has ever tried to have a Zoom call with children knows, is practically impossible, and particularly with different time zones.

These people do essential work in this country. Care of the elderly will be a huge issue with our ageing population. The State has decided to privatise this type of care in the main. Many of the nursing homes are highly profitable. In many cases, they are operated by large multinational companies. However, the workers are kept on wages that prevent them from taking part in family reunification. My request is that we recognise that we need these workers and that they have a right to be treated humanely. Just imagine: we are forcibly separating them from their families while they are looking after our families. That is not the kind of care system I want. I do not want someone looking after my older relatives who is miserable and cannot enjoy being with their children and who is separated from their spouse as well.

The Minister looked as though he was sorting this matter out during the term of previous Dáil. Then what was proposed was suddenly withdrawn. I am of the view that this was the result of pressure from private nursing homes about income limits. What we are asking for is to leave the private nursing homes out of it and that every worker who is resident in this country and who is working here should have the right to apply for family reunification without having to deal with all the barriers that are put in the way. For example, a worker must be earning €34,000 under the scheme now, but the minimum salary has been €30,000 for new recruits. It is even lower for previous recruits, so they are kept deliberately under that level. Somebody would need a minimum household net income of €36,660 to bring one child over. It is €41,912 for two children. In excess of €47,000 is needed to bring three children here. There are also higher thresholds. We are separating families, even though we know these workers will be here for the long term.

There are two categories. Category A comprises critical skills workers, which includes religious ministers and postgraduate students who do not have to adhere to any of those thresholds and who can apply for family reunification. Category B comprises the workers to whom I refer. They are essential workers. They have critical skills. We are asking that the Minister for Justice abolish the categories in question in order that any workers who are resident here may bring their spouses, most of whom are heath workers who could help to meet the need for staff in the health service, to live with them.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Coppinger for raising this important issue, which I will bring to the attention of the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. I am taking this on his behalf.

The enormous contribution made by migrant workers, particularly those working in the health sector, is recognised and valued by this Government. It is a central priority for the Minister that our immigration laws are fair and efficient. An important part of this is having legal pathways for workers and their families. I am advised by the Minister that there has been a significant increase in join family visa applications received by his Department. Approximately 22,000 such visa applications were made last year, an increase of 14% on 2023. The vast majority receive a decision within 12 months. In 2024, the average processing time for these applications was 72 calendar days.

There are differences in the criteria applied to these applications, the Deputy outlined some, which are linked to the sponsors immigration permission. Health workers who are critical skills employment permit holders can apply for join-family visas immediately. However, it is acknowledged that there are many healthcare professionals on general employment permits who are subject to additional waiting periods and financial thresholds. While some may find the difference in criteria difficult to understand, I assure the Deputy that the primary focus is to ensure that a sponsor is in a secure position and able to demonstrate a clear capacity to provide for family members before approving applications for families to join them here.

As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Justice policy document for non-EEA family reunification which was last amended in 2016 is under review. While this review is ongoing, it is not possible to pre-empt what changes may be introduced. The Minister has advised that the review is examining a wide range of matters relating to applications for family reunification. He expects that the next stage of the review will be concluded soon.

Officials from his Department have consulted with a wide variety of stakeholders, including relevant Departments and external organisations, and will continue to engage with stakeholders regarding any changes. In addition to concluding the review, the Minister has advised me that in recent months more resources and staff have been assigned to his Department's visa division which are expected to reduce the waiting times for join-family applications overall.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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I am surprised to hear the review is still under way. People have made submissions. Unite trade union is now organising these workers. This is very positive because migrant workers have not traditionally been able to participate in the trade union movement. It is very difficult and scary for somebody working in a private nursing home to put their head above the parapet. These workers staged a demonstration at the Dáil last year. Again, that was historic as it was unusual to have workers coming from all around the country. It would break your heart to hear the stories they have told us. This will not be a cost to the State. That is highly important. These workers are living here. They have houses. They have homes and accommodation. If their spouses come over, it is not that they will be getting social welfare or anything like that. They will be able to work or organise childcare, whichever the case may be. The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland made a submission and the point on this is that granting immediate family reunion rights to all GEP holders is not a burden financially on the State. It stated the permit holders will continue to generate income to the State and that the net income of the State would increase substantially with full family reunion rights. Therefore, any idea of pandering to racism or anything else is not justified whatsoever. The other key point is that we have to examine the type of care system we want. The care system should be run by the public and the State system and not for profit. This ensures we get the best care but also that workers who work in the system are guaranteed their employment rights and are treated fairly. This has to be reviewed and this review has to speed up so that these workers are not left continuing to suffer.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. I, and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, also recognise and acknowledge the contributions that migrants and their families bring to our economy and our society as a whole. The Minister's Department is committed to ensuring we provide legal pathways for economic migration that are fair, efficient and responsive to the needs of the economy. While the Minister cannot pre-empt the changes to be introduced to his Department's family reunification policy until that review has been concluded, he can assure the Deputy that he is acutely aware that join-family applications are hugely important for those families impacted and that he is committed to improving the service his Department provides. I will relay what the Deputy has said to the Minister.